Elon did not have school today due to the Easter holiday this weekend.... and it was a wonderful blessing. I got so much done today that needed to have a whole day devoted to it, i.e. painstakingly reviewing the entire first act of Chicago in my bedroom, by myself. I wish someone could have been a fly on the wall for this one, it was like I was back in middle school all over again marking dances and singing in my bedroom for hours.
Eventually I took a midday break to make myself this delicious green smoothie for lunch! (That's Healthy Meal #5) I really like making my smoothies at home because I tend to be super suspicious of restaurant smoothies... I secretly think they're sabotaging me by adding sugar and additives that diminish the benefits! So I like to make my own version of Tropical Smoothie's Island Green at home.
It's just spinach, half a banana, frozen pineapple, and frozen mango. Super simple and refreshing! You don't even have to add any extra sweetness because the banana takes care of that, especially if you use a banana that is slightly overripe. I took my smoothie outside on the porch to do some reading for my Acting for the Camera class!
Then it was back to my own private rehearsal in my bedroom! Luckily my roommates were all out and about for most of the day, so I didn't have to bother anybody with my belting.... oops!
Minutes: 40-ish.... I was holed up in my room a long time today!
Repertoire: "I Am My Own Best Friend" and "Nowadays"
Technique Worked: Like usual, I focused on relaxing into my chest resonance. Sometimes, I have an awful tendency to push into the lower register when I'm trying too hard, and it hurts my voice after awhile... which is NO GOOD! So I made sure I was using proper chest voice technique without forcing the sound out, relying on my own natural resonance to do the work for me!
Musicality Worked: First off, I spent a good deal of time simply making sure I had learned the correct notes, because those gals from the original production and revival play fast and loose with that stuff! Once I was done double checking my own memorization, I checked out some videos of past Roxie Harts to get inspiration. That sure is a lineup of fierce ladies, I have a lot to live up to!
Now, on another note...
I know this has nothing to do with our 30 Day Challenge… or
maybe it has EVERYTHING to do with the Challenge. You see, I stumbled across
this video late last night after a day where maybe I didn’t do as well as I
could have. I didn’t get a healthy meal in for the challenge, I maybe indulged
in a few too many Easter sweets, and I wasn’t feeling awesome about myself. I
didn’t feel physically well (from too much sugar) and I felt disheartened about
not having the strength and resolve to make healthy choices for myself.
And then I somehow found this. I’ve always loved the
Robertson Family-- they strike me as good, humble people. My parents and I were
a bit obsessed with Duck Dynasty last Spring, when we were going through a hard
time and really needed something wholesome and lighthearted to keep our minds
off of heavier subjects. So when I saw a video from Sadie Robertson that’s been
making some waves, I just had to watch. It surprisingly touched me in a way I
have not felt touched in a very long time. My takeaways were at once both
highly spiritual and extremely grounded in the problems of our culture.
I found myself being drawn in by her words on loving
yourself and others enough to stop the comparison game. In the end it only
hurts us both, judging others in order to try and love ourselves. And beating
ourselves up for not being someone else—something we will never be able to be
no matter how hard we try! Doesn’t it seem crazy? To be so stunned by the
epiphany that I cannot be anyone else but myself? It’s so obvious! All the
same, I felt my world being rocked.
When she started talking about God, I felt myself wanting to
back away real quick, renege on all of the positive ideas I had been forming
about the video. Because frankly, I don’t have much of a relationship with God.
And when someone starts talking about religion, I tune out, because I cannot
begin to understand what they’re referring to. I grew up with religion being a
presence in my life, attending a Catholic school from kindergarten through high
school… but never once have I genuinely felt connected to Him. Heck, I only
capitalize “Him” because my grammar teacher told me that was the rule.
As she started talking about her relationship with God, a
thought struck me that I have NEVER had before. I don’t know if I even HAVE a
relationship with God. I don’t know what that would feel like, to talk to Him
or say a prayer and actually think someone could hear me. And then another
thought hit me. What a wonderful thing that would be, feeling that type of
presence in my life, feeling like I am protected and loved even when I feel
alone and frightened.
So tonight, I’m going to start saying a prayer before bed. I
don’t know if anyone’s listening, but it sure seems like simply getting those
words out, voicing my worries and hopes aloud might be at least some sort of
interesting psychological exercise if nothing else comes of it. As an addition
to my 30 Day Challenge, I am going to add this into the requirements for myself
and see where it goes. It can’t hurt to dip my toe in the water, can it? Maybe we can make a holy girl out of me, yet! ;)
In the meantime, here’s the video for y’all to check out!
Maybe it was a singular experience for me, but it just may have some effect on
one of you, as well.
‘Til tomorrow,
XOXO
Jadi Rae
